Flame Angel - Good Reef Fish?

[67Stang]

If your opinion, would a Flame Angel be a good choice for a reef or am I looking for trouble?

Thanks again

 

[Mouse]

Make sure the fireball you buy has been net caught from DEEP WATER. The reason being is that the deeper variety have only 10% of sponges in their diet, compared to 30% found in the shallower varietys. The shallower varietys are cheaper (and possibly cyanide collected) and they dont live as long as the deeper ones due to their difficult feeding requirements. It has also been suggested that the deep water Fireballs have a lower propensity to eat coral polyps. Nice fish!!!!

[ September 07, 2001: Message edited by: Mouse ]

 

[swreefer]

The "flame angel" is a hit or miss. Some people have them in reef tanks and they do not bother anything while other people have to evenytually remove the fish when it starts nipping at corals. I had one for a little over 6 months with no problems. Then one day it started eating stuff. Almost wiped out my yellow polyps, and GSP before I caught it. It also nipped at the open brain, candycane, and the clams.

 

[67Stang]

thanks Mouse

The guy I saw was about 2 1/2 inches and beautiful. Eating dried brine and costs $45 at my LFS.

I don't know how to tell if he is deep or shallow water and I'm sure the salesman will tell me that too.

What do you think?

 

[67Stang]

Thanks SWREEFER

If there's a chance he will disturb my reef, he's outa here!

It's not worth the hassle.

I thought this but needed someone else to tell me.

Thanks again
Bruce

 

[Mabu]

I had a Coral Beauty that never bothered my corals. He died mysteriously in the tank and I replaced him with another, slightly larger Coral Beauty who then preceeded to terrorize anything in the tank that he could nip at. I had to ultimately rip the tank apart to remove him and get things back to normal.

I am under the impression that all members of the angel family, be it a Coral Beauty, Flame Angel, etc. are HIT-AND-MISS. Which means to me, feel free to experiment but be fully-prepared to tear down your tank to get the little terrorist out of it should he decide to mess with your corals.

I'm also coming to the conclusion that it has much to do with feeding habits. If there's plenty of food, chances are the fish won't nip at corals, but, if you aren't consistent, or they discover they can nip corals, you might not be able to keep the subsequent harassment from ending.

This is a shame because these fish are so beautiful. My problems with angels have led me to focus more on Wrasses, which don't seem to have bad coral-eating propensities.

 

[davelin315]

I have a flame and a coral beauty in my tank. Both of them pick at this and that periodically, but, then again, so do the damsels, the tangs, you name it. The affect that the two individuals I have is no worse than a hermit crab crawling across a coral, or a snail doing the same. In fact, I have a few snails (turbos) that eat star polyps, doing more harm than the fish!

 

[Emperator]

What about keeping a centropyge sp. in an sps only tank? It seems like they only nip at lps and soft corals.

Thanks.

 

[reefworm]

I'll chime in here as well to say you really take your chances w/angels [centropyge sp.] There is no way to tell ahead of time which ones will nip and which will not. My C. bispinosus was a model citizen for many months, and then took after the open brain, to the latters demise

So far it's bothered nothing else, but I hate to think of the tear-down I'd need to perform to get him out of there if he gets a taste for something else, like my prize E. ancora

Flames, Coral Beauties, etc. - they're all stunningly beautiful, and no mistake. But consider long and well before purchasing. Any number of "mine's ok, get one." responses you get means nothing! There are no guarantees! You may get lucky, you may not.

Sorry to be blunt about it, but I'd hate for you to lose specimens and go through the hassle of getting a trouble-maker out of your tank.

regards,
rw

 

[rh]

67stang -
You might want to make sure you and Mouse are on the same page. I believe you referred to "flame" angel (C. Loriculus) while Mouse mentioned "fireball" angel (which I've heard associated with a different pygmy angel, C. acanthops).
Generally speaking, though, the consensus with centropyge sp in the reef tank seems to be about 50/50. That said, I've kept a C. bispinosus (coral beauty) for 3 years w/out incident.

 

[Mike&Pam]

I've had a flame angel in my 90 gal reef for about a month now. I went through the same decision as you. Finally, after I got more "yes's" than "no's," I bought the flame angel (he's a great looking fish, as if you didn't know!). He has not posed any really serious problems. For about the past week or so, he decided to start nipping at the rose brain. This caused it to not open up anymore. Therefore, I moved it and it opened up again. When he discovers it again, I'll move it again. No real damage yet, but it's a little annoying, but things could be worse. For now, he's worth it. Like other's say, the flame angel is a "hit or miss." He also bullies around my coral beauty but no harm from that. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Mike

 

[67Stang]

The Flame Angels beauty is overpowering my senses regarding angels in the reef tank. You guys telling me that you had good experiences is also leaning me to get one. It's a tough decision and my LFS has a nice one in now.

Another thought after reading all the replies to this post, I noticed alot of reference to Coral Beauties.

I was also thinking about a Coral Beauty but again, the reefer in me says no.

Do you think both angels in the same tank is hit or miss? What do you think, Flame or coral beauty first?

Thanks Again
Bruce

 

[NoriMuncher]

I'm surprised to find controversy concerning coral beauties in a reef... I thought they weren't a problem with anything besides other angels. I've had three over six years (one jumper, one died in a heat wave, one frolicking in the tank right now) who have never caused problems.

Then again, I only have 4 corals - maybe they don't like the ones that I have.

 

[Mouse]

Mind you i have heard of people keeping Niger Triggers in reef tanks. I would have said that even in extreme circumstances these fanged beasts would wreck everything.